Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1887-01-26
ANCIENT LIBRARIES.
Manuscript Exchanged from
Country to Country.

Country to Country.
Prof. Lanciant delivered his lecture
on Medieval and ancient libraries" in
the Lowell institute class at Huntington
hall on Dec. 4. The letter presented
many interesting facts. Prof. Lanciant
first spoke of the almost absolute nom
existence Of any written history on the
subject.
Some books written in the seven
teenth century concerning ancient Ii
brarieS are rendered useless by the re-
cent explorations. Some pamphlets
have been issued on the subject, the
most recently published this year, and
giving the results of the explorations to
date, being on this account the most
valuable. Rome's first important Ii
brary was brought from Greece, and
contained several hundred volumes.
This library had strange history, and
suffered many viclssitudes. Ancient
authority declared that the library
room, or reading-room, should be IN the
easterfy portion of the house, both on
account of the early morning light, and
because there would be less danger
there of moths and mildew damaging
the precious parchments, and this ad-
vice seems generally to have been fol-
lowed. The library was never warmed
IN any way as the danger of fire was
considered great, and the warmth was
liable to do injury to the rolls and their
bindings. This custom OF excluding
artificial heat from the library is now
strictly adhered to in the famous library
of the Vatican, where many others Of
the ancient customs are also maintained.
The library was usually small, on an
average 15x20 feet, and could thus lie
kept at more even temperature.
Seventeen hundred volumes were the
contents Of one library of the above di-
mensions. On account of their scar
city, books commanded high prices, and
Aristotle is quoted as having paid the
equivalent of $500 for single took,
made up possibly OF several volumes.
An Alexandrian monarch sent to Ath-
ems for some valuable books, of which
he wished to make copies. AS he de-
posted Sic, 800 as security for their safe
return, they were lent to him. Instead
OF returning the organs, however, he
sent back the copies, thus forfeiting
the deposit but deeming the original
books cheaply bought at Sl6.5O0.
The appearance OF the Roman Look
store was next described. Each book
seller was the publisher of some one
popular writer, and his shelves were
filed with his writings, not to the ex-
clusion of everything else, however,
while the latest works with the most
attractive bindings were conSplcuously
displayed. One thousand copies were
the usual edition. The first public Ii
brary WAS established about % b. C.,
by Roman writer who was the Mark
Twain of his time. Four years later
the Emperor Augustus made the public
library state institution. 1t was
largely endowed by the spoils OF the
Dalmatian war. Several other Libraries
were soon after established. Tiberius
giving wing Of his palace, for the pur-
pose. Some of the ancient libraries are
reported as containing 200, 600 volumes.
This is not to be taken in the modern,
for often single chapter or cantO
took up one so-called volume. In 1921.
papyrus was found on an island in
the Nile, containing 6l7 verses from
the Had. 1t was made up of II vol.
umes or rolls.
That books were lent from the librG-
Ties is shown by the ancedote related
by the lecturer. y certain party of
citizens were discussing the use of ice
to cool the drinking water. One of
the party was strongly opposed to its
use, and to substantiate his statements
against it went to the nelghboring l.
brary and brought forth a book of
Aristotle, IN which that ancient writer
strongly denounced the use of ice-wateT,
and it is related that the remainder OF
the party become so thoroughly con-
vInced of the truth of his assertions
that they then and there fOrswOre its
use forever. Many of the older libraries
we're destroyed either totally OF in part,
by fire The Apollo li-rary, which con-
tanned thousands of volumes, was a no.
table example. But few of its many
rolls were saved.
In September, in 1888, i'll some ex-
ploratiOns Prof. Lanclant discovered
the ruins of an elegant private house,
one side of which was wonderfully we'll
preserved. III the chapel were nineteen
chapel WAS a stairway descending into
a room for the observance OF religious
ceremonies. 4 statue occupied the
center of this loom, and around II, it
was stated, seven candles were kept
burning. The remains of these candles
were actually found, proving the truth
of the tradition. The library was
room about 25Il5 feet, and for perhaps
ten feet from the floor the walls were
plain, while above the decorations in
stucco work, etc, were very elaborate.
The lower space was occupied by the
book shelves. The shelves were in
scribed for the different works, COM
prisIng law, philosophy, history,
medicine, and others, and medallicns
of the celebrated writers Ornamented
thesroom. Some of the ancient libra
ries were supplied with these wonderful
little lamps, which least light for many
hours left alone by themselves" for
nocturnal students. Sun dlalS were
also provided. Catalogues were prof.
ably issued, and the titles of the books
themselves we're always beautifully il
lustrated in the title pages. Manu-
scripts were sometimes exchanged from
county to county. In this way many
books were sent to the British isles as
early as 601 A. D., and IN 600 the favor
was returned, an English abbott brings
to Rome a manuscript, which has been
preserved, and which is now deposited
IN Florence. But for one broken link
we should have All uEbroken chain OF
books, extending back many centuries,
in the records of the papal DEGREES,
acts and laws. That broken link is
from 1I24 to 1890. In 1124 the books
were sold, and not until 1890 was the
collection again begun by Innocent
III.
The number of immigrants vino